PUTTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT: EGBA’S RESPONSE TO AWUJALE’S ALLEGATIONS.
The attention of the Egbas has been drawn to the comment of the Awujale, Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, His Majesty, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, on His Majesty, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, CFR, Okukenu IV, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, on Thursday 10 March, 2016 in Lagos during the launch of Endowment Fund for a Chair at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
Our concern is predicated on the self-indulgence of our respected Monarch to churn out outright historical falsehoods in the presence of knowledgeable Nigerians. In spite of our belief that his audience would have taken his attempt to rewrite contemporary history as his personal views, we feel compelled to state the facts for record purposes.
The attention of the Egbas has been drawn to the comment of the Awujale, Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, His Majesty, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, on His Majesty, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, CFR, Okukenu IV, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, on Thursday 10 March, 2016 in Lagos during the launch of Endowment Fund for a Chair at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
Our concern is predicated on the self-indulgence of our respected Monarch to churn out outright historical falsehoods in the presence of knowledgeable Nigerians. In spite of our belief that his audience would have taken his attempt to rewrite contemporary history as his personal views, we feel compelled to state the facts for record purposes.
We respond below to the specific issues raised in Awujale’s speech:
ALLEGATION: Awujale alleged that Alake quoted wrongly from a 1903 Government Gazette which was a newspaper publication.
FACT: Alake quoted Government Gazette, Colony of Lagos, Saturday, 20th February, 1903. Page 100, paragraph 16. Gazette is a subsidiary legislation which has force of law and therefore a public document available for verification.
ALLEGATION: Awujale made several calls to Alake to confirm if Alake actually made the statement on Yoruba Obas ranking. Awujale also claimed that Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos also contacted Alake on same issue-which Alake again denied.
FACT: Both Awujale and Oba of Lagos actually called Alake on the ranking of Yoruba Obas, Alake responded that his ranking was supported by documentary evidence and he therefore stands by his position.
ALLEGATION: Who categorized the Yoruba Traditional Rulers?
FACT: The then Ooni of Ife did at the Central Native Council Meeting which was chaired by the Governor-General, His Excellency Sir William Macgregor, M.D, KCMG,CR. at Government House, Lagos in 1937. Those in attendance included the Ooni of Ife, Alafin of Oyo, Oba of Benin, Alake of Abeokuta and Awujale of Ijebu Ode.
ALLEGATION: Alake was a junior chief in Egba Forest under Alafin from where he fled to Ibadan, only to be later sacked by the Ijebu army. He fled to Abeokuta where he met the Osile, the Olowu, the Agura and Olubara, all of whom had previously settled in Abeokuta before him.
FACT: 20 Alake had reigned in the Egba forest prior to the founding of Abeokuta in 1830. There was no Alake that fled to, or took refuge in Ibadan. The Egbas arrived and settled in Abeokuta mainly in 1830. The first Alake in Abeokuta was installed in 1854, followed by the Olowu in 1855, the Agura 1870 and the Osile 1897.
By the Egba United Government proclamation of 1st February 1898, approved by the then Governor of Lagos, the Egba cabinet was as follows “
The Alake President
The Osile Minister of Justice
The Agura Minister of Communication and Works
The Olowu Minister of Finance
ALLEGATION: Alake from all historical record is a junior Oba like those
under the Awujale in Ijebuland. His control since arrival in Abeokuta
in 1830 is restricted to Ake Section of Abeokuta.
FACT: Just as there were the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, the Akarigbo of Sagamu, the Soun of Ogbomoso, the Olowo of Owo, Oba of Lagos and so on, there was the title, “Alake of Abeokuta” .
Alake is only comparable with the Awujale even now that they are both Paramount Rulers and Rotational Chairmen of Ogun State Traditional Council of Obas. Historically speaking, Alake was higher by Salary Differentials paid by Colonial Government - see the table below:
LORD LUGARD's GRADING AND SALARIES OF OBAS IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES.
A: First Class (the two Monarchs were among First Class Obas)
1. Alake of Abeokuta £2,250
2. Awujale of Ijebu-Ode. £1,700
1. Source-Page 4,paragraph 4, Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Information National Archives, Files Nos. 33044, CSO 26, letter SP11828120, Secretary's Office, Southern Province, Enugu. 31st January, 1938).
ALLEGATION: Awujale and the immediate Past Alake Oba Oyebade Lipede sat with former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on the issue at Aso Rock.
FACT : Awujale did not give the outcome of the meeting. We don't want to insinuate that if it were advantageous, he would have mentioned it.
ALLEGATION: My advice to Alake, being a young and inexperienced traditional ruler, is that he should contact Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for proper education so as to save himself and his people from further embarrassment.
FACT: Although this concluding part of Awujale's speech is uncalled for and neither civil nor decent, we do not intend to defile the sacred Yoruba Traditional Institution. We therefore refrain from trading insult with a highly regarded monarch of his status.
CONCLUSION.
We want to thank and appreciate all those who were agitated by the Awujale's speech. We have been reading a lot of favourable and sympathetic reactions from the social and conventional media. Many of the comments eloquently testify to our stand .
The intention of the Egbas was never to whip up any controversy or demean anybody, rather it is always to educate the public by stating the fact of history and record purposes.
THANKS
For and on behalf of Egba Chieftaincy Committee.
Culled as stated by Baaroyin Egba, Chief Layi Labode
FACT: Just as there were the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, the Akarigbo of Sagamu, the Soun of Ogbomoso, the Olowo of Owo, Oba of Lagos and so on, there was the title, “Alake of Abeokuta” .
Alake is only comparable with the Awujale even now that they are both Paramount Rulers and Rotational Chairmen of Ogun State Traditional Council of Obas. Historically speaking, Alake was higher by Salary Differentials paid by Colonial Government - see the table below:
LORD LUGARD's GRADING AND SALARIES OF OBAS IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES.
A: First Class (the two Monarchs were among First Class Obas)
1. Alake of Abeokuta £2,250
2. Awujale of Ijebu-Ode. £1,700
1. Source-Page 4,paragraph 4, Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Information National Archives, Files Nos. 33044, CSO 26, letter SP11828120, Secretary's Office, Southern Province, Enugu. 31st January, 1938).
ALLEGATION: Awujale and the immediate Past Alake Oba Oyebade Lipede sat with former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on the issue at Aso Rock.
FACT : Awujale did not give the outcome of the meeting. We don't want to insinuate that if it were advantageous, he would have mentioned it.
ALLEGATION: My advice to Alake, being a young and inexperienced traditional ruler, is that he should contact Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for proper education so as to save himself and his people from further embarrassment.
FACT: Although this concluding part of Awujale's speech is uncalled for and neither civil nor decent, we do not intend to defile the sacred Yoruba Traditional Institution. We therefore refrain from trading insult with a highly regarded monarch of his status.
CONCLUSION.
We want to thank and appreciate all those who were agitated by the Awujale's speech. We have been reading a lot of favourable and sympathetic reactions from the social and conventional media. Many of the comments eloquently testify to our stand .
The intention of the Egbas was never to whip up any controversy or demean anybody, rather it is always to educate the public by stating the fact of history and record purposes.
THANKS
For and on behalf of Egba Chieftaincy Committee.
Culled as stated by Baaroyin Egba, Chief Layi Labode
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